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Post-Crescent Media

Bigger perspective on public spending

Your property taxes are spent on police and fire services, education, utilities, public works, parks and recreation, a judicial system, economic development and more, and you deserve to know how that money is used. Each Sunday, The Post-Crescent examines a slice of that spending: where taxes go, what they buy, and, as often as possible, how the spending compares with similar expenditures elsewhere in Wisconsin. If you have a suggestion for our Public Spending Desk, contact Editor/Local Enterprise Andy Thompson at athompson@postcrescent.com or 920-993-1000, ext. 257.

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Gas prices plummeted 50 cents in recent weeks in the Fox Valley, an indication of how volatile fuel costs can be for customers.

Among the biggest bulk buyers in the region are municipalities, which purchase gas to fill poli e squad cars, heavy machinery and lawn mowers.

Budgeting can be tricky, given the flux in gas prices, said Mike Easker, Neenah’s finance director.

“We’ll budget somewhere in the $3.75 per gallon area,” Easker said. “We do it based on a projected percentage increase. In 2012 we came in $16,000 under budget.”

Easker said Neenah sees cost savings when buying in bulk for all its vehicles.

Here’s a breakdown of costs for Neenah, Menasha and Appleton:

• Appleton: $997,832

Appleton’s central equipment agency has 396 vehicles and pieces of equipment. In 2012, they used 114,261 gallons of diesel fuel and 115,329 gallons of unleaded gas.

Combine that with the fuel sold to the Appleton Area School District, and the city spent about $1 million last year on fuel.

The 2012 budget calculated unleaded gas at $3.29 per gallon and diesel at $3.36 — the bulk rate.

• Neenah: $396,555

Easker said the city often makes purchases every three or four months, so gas being used in March or April could technically be at January prices. Next year’s budget will likely follow a similar 0 to 5 percent increase.

• Menasha: $225,633

Menasha bought 22,342 gallons of unleaded gas last year, along with 44,324 gallons of diesel to keep its vehicles running.

The average price paid per gallon in 2012 for both diesel and unleaded was $3.38, according to data provided by Deputy Treasurer Jennifer Sassman.

“A vast majority of the fuel comes from the city pumps, then we have some outside vendors,” Sassman said.